The US Department of Justice has announced charges against four Ghanaian nationals for masterminding a sophisticated international criminal network that swindled over $100 million through romance scams and business email compromises.
The accused individuals are Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, Derrick Van Yeboah, and Patrick Kwame Asare, who allegedly led a fraud ring targeting vulnerable individuals and businesses across the US.
According to the indictment, the group operated a criminal organization based in Ghana that tricked older adults into fake online romantic relationships, convincing them to send money or assist in laundering stolen funds.
They also hacked business email accounts to deceive companies into wiring millions to their enterprise.
The proceeds were laundered back to West Africa, with Boateng and Ahmed identified as key leaders.
Three of the suspects, Boateng, Ahmed, and Van Yeboah, have been extradited to the US and appeared before a magistrate judge, while Asare remains at large.
The defendants face multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and receipt of stolen money, each carrying up to 20 years in prison.
US Attorney Jay Clayton and FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia condemned the scam, emphasizing the commitment to combat online fraud and bring perpetrators to justice.
The US Department of Justice praised Ghanaian authorities for their crucial role in securing the extraditions, and the case is being prosecuted by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit of the US Attorney’s Office.
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